1st Advantage MortgageThe median Medina County household earns $94,968, and 6% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Medina County
- How much Medina County households make
- Housing costs in Medina County
- The Medina County job picture
- How Medina County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Medina County
- Debt-to-income at Medina County's medians
- Medina County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Medina County
- Four steps for Medina County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Medina County residents
- More guides for Medina County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Medina County
With an estimated 183,660 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Medina County ranks 16th of 88 in Ohio for population. Land area is 421 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 436 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Cleveland, OH metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Brunswick is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 35,246 people (19% of the county total).
How much Medina County households make
At $94,968, the typical Medina County household income is 45% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 5th of 88.
| Yearly household income | Medina County | Gap to Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.6% | -9.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.4% | -3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.0% | +7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.0% | +4.9 pts |
Some 15% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 47% have six-figure incomes. 6.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.3%). None of these numbers decides a Medina County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Medina County
Renters in Medina County pay a median of $1,143 a month, 11% above the Ohio figure of $1,034. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Home values center on $287,000, or 3.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 80%. Median construction year: 1985.
| Medina County | Ohio | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,143/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $287,000 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 21% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 8% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
The Medina County job picture
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. The survey's unemployment rate for Medina County averages 2.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Medina County | Difference from Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.5% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.2% | -0.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.2% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | -0.2 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
How Medina County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 19 to 35 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $64,468 in Cuyahoga County to $73,574 in Wayne County; none of these neighbors top Medina County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medina County | - | $94,968 | $1,143/mo | 80% |
| Summit County, OH | 19 mi | $71,622 | $1,026/mo | 68% |
| Wayne County, OH | 20 mi | $73,574 | $881/mo | 77% |
| Lorain County, OH | 27 mi | $73,347 | $966/mo | 74% |
| Ashland County, OH | 27 mi | $69,860 | $888/mo | 78% |
| Cuyahoga County, OH | 34 mi | $64,468 | $1,060/mo | 59% |
| Stark County, OH | 35 mi | $67,934 | $909/mo | 69% |
Places inside Medina County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Medina County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 97,828 people, so roughly 47% of residents live outside any named place. Sharon Center has the highest median household income on the list ($110,500) and Lodi the lowest ($51,914), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Spencer ($768) and steepest in Westfield Center ($1,590). Live in one of these Medina County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick | city | 35,246 | $90,663 | $1,157 | 10 mi |
| Medina | city | 25,950 | $77,385 | $1,077 | 2 mi |
| Wadsworth | city | 24,492 | $79,490 | $1,067 | 11 mi |
| Lodi | village | 2,783 | $51,914 | $902 | 8 mi |
| Creston | village | 2,413 | $68,500 | $861 | 10 mi |
| Seville | village | 2,116 | $76,938 | $923 | 7 mi |
| Westfield Center | village | 1,211 | $109,625 | $1,590 | 6 mi |
| Sharon Center | CDP | 1,129 | $110,500 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Valley City | CDP | 785 | $99,643 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Chippewa Lake | village | 638 | $73,958 | $1,038 | 3 mi |
| Spencer | village | 628 | $73,542 | $768 | 12 mi |
| Gloria Glens Park | village | 437 | $70,000 | $1,143 | 4 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Debt-to-income at Medina County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Medina County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,914 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,143, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,706 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Medina County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Medina County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 36% of adults over 25. 4.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Medina County | Ohio statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.2% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.7% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.0% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.3% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
Before borrowing in Medina County
Based on the Medina County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 47% of Medina County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Four steps for Medina County borrowers
Steps that save money for Medina County residents:
- Price the Medina County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Ohio.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Medina County residents
Consumer lenders serving Medina County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Ohio that is the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Ohio guide.
More guides for Medina County
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Medina County earn?
The median is $94,968; 47% earn $100,000 or more and 15% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Medina County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,143 against $1,034 statewide, and 45% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Medina County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 80% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Medina County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Brunswick, Medina, Wadsworth, Lodi, Creston and 7 more.
Are Medina County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.